Totana
Totana is a well connected municipality in the South-west of the Region of Murcia, 45km from the main capital City of Murcia and covering an area of 287,67 Km2 with around 30,000 inhabitants.
Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Espuña, it includes flat agricultural plains and mountainous pine clad forests within its borders, creating a variety of natural resources which all contribute to the local economy, and falls within the area known as the Comarca del Bajo Guadalentin..
Natural water sources attracted prehistoric settlers, the Cueva de la Moneda, Cejo del Pantano and Los Mortolitos all evidence of its earliest inhabitants, although the most significant site in Totana is that of La Bastida, an important Argaric settlement dating to 2200BC.
However, its main development as a town dates to the end of the 16th century, when the conclusion of the Catholic Reconquist of Spain put an end to the border conflicts between Moors and Christians which made this area such a dangerous place to live and the local residents moved down from the relative safety of Aledo to the tempting plains and water supplies offered by Totana.
The town has a number of attractive historical buildings, including the .Parroquia de Santiago, the Ermita de Santa Eulalia de Mérida, "La Santa", above the town in the Sierra Espuña, the Fuente Juan de Uzeta, the Capilla de la Milagrosa, Templo Parroquial de Las Tres Avemarías and Ermita de san Roque, as well as the Town Hall itself.
Totana has an important ceramic tradition, with Alfareros, or potters around the town, and has a strong agricultural base, an established livestock production industry, extensive vineyards producing table grapes and a good deal of salad and vegetable cultivation.
Amongst the fiestas celebrated are the Fiestas Patronales in honour of Santa Eulalia de Mérida, which take place between the 8th and 10th of December, the Romería de la Santa in January, an important Semana Santa (Easter) and fiestas in honour of Santiago, the town’s patron.
In addition Totana celebrates a number of sporting events, including road races both in a car and on foot up to the sanctuary of La Santa.
Rural tourism is also an element of the local economy, the sanctuary of La Santa and the Sierra Espuña an important focal point for walkers and those seeking an alternative to sun and sea tourism, and the orchard areas around Totana are also popular with expats, due to their proximity to a larger expat community, but the “spanishness” of the orchard accommodation..
Totana is in the South-west area of Murcia, 40 minutes from the capital City of Murcia, 30-40 minutes from the San Javier airport and about 1.15 minutes from Alicante airport. It is 30km from the coast and the beaches of Mazarrón. At the foot of the Sierra Espuña, it is in the heart of the Guadalentin valley, and well connected, both by road and rail.
It borders with Mula to the North, Alhama de Murcia to the east, Mazarrón and Lorca to the south and Aledo to the West.
Click for map,Totana, Murcia
